Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-03-03
GLASS IN HER LUNGS.

youur Lady's Life Saved by Daring Surgi-
cal Operation-Part of Rib Cut Away to
Facilitate the Work
Medical circles in this city have again
heeu startled by the remarkable operation
of bold surgeon, says The Cincinnati IN
o,.irer. 1t consisted of laying open the
chest: cutting into the lung, and removing
foreign body; the patient recovering.
lsdomiual surgery has become an every
dav occurance, but this procedure has
never before been attempted. The chest
cavity with its contained organs is con
stant bugbear to the doctors. Th patient
i a Young lady of about 20, the daughter
~ an eastern stock broker. When a child
AZ play she was thoughtless enough to
/ mi colored glass bottle in her mouth
Rv some sudden motion or jar tue glass
vas broken and part of it went into her
rinanipe. violent fit of coughing en-.
4 sued and small bits were expectorated
/ hut from the symptoms manifested it was
evident that & portion of the glass still
/ rsmeined in her throat severe hemorrhege
/ eusued the Rext day, and was only check
cd by the most energetic measures. The
bleedgg occurred the next day sud the
next. and each time threatning to cormin-
ating fatally.
At the end of week the flow Oh blood
vas stopped, and the child showed signs
OF improvement. Its appetite returned
and its usual foudness Tor play was seen,
vet at times in the midst of its frolics
the little one would stop, put ber hand to
her chest, and give evidence 'ef the most
terrible suffering. 1t was hored the child
. l,a "a
Ieyed its condition was due TO disease of
4 the lungs. AT the the age ct 6 years how.
ever, the child had sn attaot-of spasmodic
coughing, which lasted abort ten minptes
and terminated in the expulsion of sew
\ eral pieces of glass rs large as the end of
lead-pencil. At this time she again
nearly bled TO death, but this was averted,
ana she immediately grew. Her conval-
/ escence was rapid, and in a months time
she was able TO start to school. She made
satisfactory progress in her school work
I arc al last graduated ~ the age of IL,
4 Will high honors- One year later hack
] ing cough appesred, aCJom panied by loss
Of flesh and strength, impaired appetite
palor, and ah the aUcomp apartments of
early consumption. Ehe doctor ia at
tendance was Arm in tho belief that this
was the malsdy so rapidly carrying her be-
the grave. Medicines were given. but
without avail
One day Whfle the pR ysician WAS exemin-
ing her a SMALL red snot was noticed or
the left side just below the arm pit. 1t
was very tender On pressure evidently
containing pus. Tlsea idea at once stru51
the doctor that q piece of the glass
swallowed years befoce might have lodged
IN this spot, and, efSer so long remaidin.
quite, had begun 10 make it's presense
known. With the,e0nsent of the Yong
lady and her friends, preparations were
made for en operation with the view .af
finding out the'causs of her disease and,
if possible, rem sGy it.
The patient as'stherised at 10 O'Clock
in the morning. Terty-fve minutes leser
the operation was completed. After bhoF
oughly cleansing lie part with sRtisepsic
solution S6e knife @as inserted Just fee
meath the Fit OF the arm aud drawn down
Ward two inches. A large quantity of
offensive n1atteresoGped. On Introducing
the finger into the wound a cavity wos
found as large Gs a. small orange. This
was lined 10y very tough adherent tissue.
At point could easily be felt the sharp
|bia to extract st tsrough the opening
maze without enda1gering the adjacent
tissue. Consequently about one and
half inches of the rib opposite was sew.
! ed off, thus giving the surgeon a eoat
view and permitting the manipulation of
instruments. The piece of glass Yves
attached SO tightly that it had 80 De out
loose by carved scissors. Little or ne
bleeding occurred however. After search-
ling around 30 cavity to be sure that
nothing moce remained it was washed cut
p!th antiseptac water. a rubber tube wac
introduced t9 drain .eway the discharge
and the wound was ciesed with silver wire
leaving the sat rib to take care OF itself.
During the operation the patients pulse
was strong eKeeptat the moment when
n The glass was cut loosa,-at which time tt
grew rapid and weak, hat soon recovered
Its normal force
Tho young lady satUp in two weeks and
Ia a month took a rise. Her recovery
4 was rapid and complete, her appetite re
'orAed, her arWs grew plump, the roses
4 ppearet on her cheeks, and the old Low
n ny IRE burned again in her eyes. She
IFa since developed into quite noted
niger, and at a eonoeat recently won
eaTels in great pcofusion. 1t is said she
#~L soon marry a young man from Boston
NJ Is interested ic the names of Color
100. Her health is perfect, and each day
lhca her more and more thankful to the
oo.a surgeon who saved her life. She
'''l .eePs the piece of glass as remind
OF what existed between her and the
"ores beyond. The iady's game is not
gwen, 4aOuub she is we'll kDfyrr17i n soCtetv
circles ln this city